Shillong, Oct 27: The annual tourism fiesta Shillong Autumn Festival organized by the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum’s (MTDF) kicked off Saturday morning with around two thousand participants taking part in the “Half Marathon.” The tourism event was also marked with the flagging off of the “Green Run” “Walkathon” and “Open Cycling.
While chief minister Mukul Sangma flagged off the half marathon at 07:00 hours, urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and water resource minister AL Hek flagged off the Green Run, Walkathon and Open Cycling events respectively.
The half marathon, cycling competition, and walkathon, divided into different categories, are the first ever organized by MTDF with the route taking runners from Madan Iew Rynghep (Fire Brigade) going through Laitumkhrah, Civil hospital point, around Khyndailad (Police bazaar) to the Governor House, Fourth Furlong, Nongmynsong, Itshyrwat, Mawpat, Golf Links, FCI Mawlai up to Polo Ground, with thirteen pit stops in between as volunteers hand out ribbons, water and juice to quench the thirst of the runners and cyclists.
“We call it the half marathon because the distance covered is 13.10 miles which is exactly half that of the real marathon,” said a member of the MTDF.
The theme for the event is, “For a Greener Tomorrow” with an aim to save the environment of Meghalaya.
International marathoner from Meghalaya Biningstar Lyngdoh was also felicitated as event’s ambassador by chief minister Sangma.
It became a special occasion as five participants came all the way from Uttarkhand after having read in the internet. Amongst them, Dinesh Lal even managed to reach third in the half marathon.
Sangma also took part in the walkathon along with five hundred participants from various schools and members of the public while a total of seven hundred participants ran the grueling 13.1 mile Half Marathon.
One hundred and twenty riders in the Open Cycle competition in both the Mountain Bike and BMX category cycled through the same half marathon route.
The winners for the men’s category are Samananda Meitei from Assam Regimental Centre, Jamsing Star Ramsiej from Mawkyrwat and Dinesh Lal from Uttarchand for the prize money of Rs 20,000/-, 15,000/- and Rs. 10,000/- respectively.
Similarly for the same cash prize, the winners for the women’s half marathon category are siblings Kyntimon Marweiñ and Datei Bankynmaw Marweiñ from Mawkyrwat for first and third place, and Anjela Sancley from SAI for the second place. Cash prize of Rs. 1000/- each also went to the next 4th till 10th winners of both the categories.
With sports bicycles as prizes, the winners for the Mountain Bike category are Gary Umdor from Laitumkhrah and Jayanta and Gogoi who came all the way from Nowgong, Assam while the BMX category went to Bravery Warjri, Lamphrang Nongneng and Bankerlang. The youngest participant and cyclist was five-year old Master Ryan Jeffrey Lyngdoh and the first female cyclist was Stacey Shallam.
The Green Run of just five miles had seven hundred participants and the cash prizes were of Rs 5000/-, Rs 3000/- and Rs 2,000/- for both the boys and girls category.
The winners for the boy’s category went to Kynpham Swer, Nimtshering Lepcha and Amster John Syiemiong while the girl’s category was taken by an all Mawkyrwat team of Bandasharai Marweiñ, Kyntihun Syiemlieh and Darimon Jyrwa.
There were also prizes given to the under 12 category that was won by Edward Sungoh, Kynphamlang Lyngdoh Mawlieh and Andrew Syiemsad.
The best poster and best costume depicting the environmental degradation went to Rilbong PNC Secondary School while the biggest contingent went to the National Cadet Corps, Shillong with two hundred boys and girls. –By Our Reporter
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